Stealing a kiss... Courting the Countess by Donna Hatch (Blog Tour Guest Post & Giveaway)


On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

I learned something new about why a woman's virtue was so closely scrutinized during the Regency era from Donna's guest post below. It's one of my favorite time periods and it's the time period Donn'as newest release is set during. Definitely check it out as well as the giveaway below...

Courting the Countess by [Hatch, Donna]
Courting the Countess
by Donna Hatch
Adult Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 388 pages
October 5th 2016 by The Wild Rose Press, Inc

Summary

When charming rake Tristan Barrett sweeps Lady Elizabeth off her feet, stealing both her heart and a kiss in a secluded garden, her brother challenges Tristan to a duel. The only way to save her brother and Tristan from harm—not to mention preserve her reputation—is to get married. But her father, the Duke of Pemberton, refuses to allow his daughter to marry anyone but a titled lord. The duke demands that Elizabeth marry Tristan’s older brother, Richard, the Earl of Averston. Now Elizabeth must give up Tristan to marry a man who despises her, a man who loves another, a man she’ll never love.

Richard fears Elizabeth is as untrustworthy as his mother, who ran off with another man. However, to protect his brother from a duel and their family name from further scandal, he agrees to the wedding, certain his new bride will betray him. Yet when Elizabeth turns his house upside down and worms her way into his reluctant heart, Richard suspects he can’t live without his new countess. Will she stay with him or is it too little, too late?

   
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Stealing Kisses and Avoiding Scandal
by Regency Historical romance author, Donna Hatch

Stealing kisses, and especially losing one’s virtue, was supposed to be very difficult during the Regency. Vigilant chaperones kept a sharp eye out on young ladies to protect both their reputation and their virtue. It was more than simple morality, more than keeping a marriage vow. It had less to do with love and loyalty and more to do with ensuring the purity of the line. Ladies of questionable character were not considered good matches because a prospective husband had reason to suspect she would not be faithful to him. Regency gentleman must know of a surety that any child born within the union was indeed his true offspring. Such was required to ensure the continuation of the family line since only a legitimate son of the current landholder was recognized as the heir to the estate. Of course, there were love matches, and within those marriages, spouses were expected to be faithful for a more emotional, loving reason. However, the practical aspect often won out over matters of the heart.

A young lady didn’t have to be caught in the arms of a man to have her reputation destroyed. It could take no more than the knowledge that she was alone, if even for a moment, with a man. Riding in a closed carriage, being alone in a room—any room—with a man, wearing clothing that was too thin or too low, and dancing more than twice at a ball, and even close association with a known libertine were all ways that might start gossips talking. A talking gossip is all it took for a young lady’s character to be called into question, scrutinized, and possibly ruined.

Incidentally, a maid or any other servant was not an acceptable chaperone. Servants were too easily bullied or bribed. Chaperones must be respectable older, preferably married women, but a spinster of good character was also acceptable. Mothers or other family members or friends of the family usually served as chaperones, but chaperones could also be hired.

In spite of all the precautions put into place, a couple could steal kisses if one were quick enough or clever enough, and sometimes even more transpired with a chaperone being none the wiser. But a young lady, and even a gentleman, had to be prepared for possible consequences—a hasty wedding or becoming a social outcast.

About the Author


Donna Hatch is the author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series,” and a winner of writing awards such as The Golden Quill and the International Digital Award. A hopeless romantic and adventurer at heart, she discovered her writing passion at the tender age of 8 and has been listening to those voices ever since. She has become a sought-after workshop presenter, and also juggles freelance editing, multiple volunteer positions, and most of all, her six children (seven, counting her husband). A native of Arizona who recently transplanted to the Pacific Northwest, she and her husband of over twenty five years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.

$10 Amazon eGift Card and an ebook of The Stranger She Married
Open internationally
Ends October 10th

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I'm looking forward to reading this one! Have you read any of Donna's books? Who is your favorite historical romance author?

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